CONFIRMED: Brighton and two Premier League clubs in for Serie A sensation Samardzic

Jacque Talbot

• Updated: 19 Jan 2024 10:17 GMT
• 3 min read

Confirmed

Brighton are keen on Udinese for midfielder Lazar Samardzic after talks with Napoli fell through, FootballTransfers has been told.

The 21-year-old's versatility has attracted interest from top clubs, with the Seagulls and two other Premier League clubs now monitoring his situation, sources have informed us.

Negotiations between Napoli and Udinese for Samardzic had been underway, but the deal had encountered a hurdle in the form of discussions with the player’s representative.

Serie A giants Juventus have set their sights on Samardzic for a potential summer move but Udinese are open to a sale this window.

Samardzic's journey in the transfer market has seen Inter Milan come close to securing his services last summer. However, a setback occurred during negotiations, with his father and agent not managing to agree terms with Udinese.

Discussions between Brighton and Udinese are in progress but there are other sides at the table, too. Napoli have not reopened talks for a couple of weeks now and so there is a feeling that other sides can pip them to his signiture.

Who is Lazar Samardzic?

The German-born maestro began his youth football journey with BSV Grun-Weiss Neukolln in 2008 and continued there until 2009. He began his professional career with Hertha Berlin, playing in their youth setup.

While playing for their U17 and U19 teams, Samardzic scored 16 and 14 goals, respectively. Samardzic made his debut in 2020 against Union Berlin after coming on as a substitute. His brilliant display soon attracted the attention of elite clubs, including AC Milan and Barcelona.

It was enough for the player to secure a move to RB Leipzig, signing a five-year contract the following season. After a single campaign there, the youngster moved across to Udinese, where he has continued to flourish.

Samardzic, who plays international football for Serbia, has superb ball-striking ability and is dangerous when provided with set-piece opportunities. He thrives in the final third and can create chances for his team-mates with his astute technical ability and passing range.